In 2021, Ben Gaudry, Ken Woelders, and a group of partners opened Norcon Construction Services in Edmonton Alberta. The team’s vision was to create a small, service-oriented construction company that provided clients with exemplary service and value-adds at a cost-effective price. They hoped the idea would gain traction.
Instead, it took off like a racecar.
It started with word-of-mouth. “Potential clients were reaching out to us giving us opportunity to bid and execute projects,” Ken Woelders, COO, says. “We landed our first projects in that first year and immediately started hiring some amazing staff and craft along with purchasing our first pieces of equipment.”
Fast forward to today: Norcon has grown to a team of 13 staff, with over 75 craft in the field and an equipment fleet of over 40 pieces. Revenues have increase year over year—a staggering 450 per cent increase in 2022 and an estimated 80 per cent increase in 2023—with projects though out Alberta and BC in the oil & gas, renewables, infrastructure and mining sectors.
Norcon’s presence is due to its specialities in civil earthworks, tree clearing and access matting services to the oil & gas, renewables, infrastructure and mining sectors.
“At Norcon, our goal is to provide our clients with safe, cost effective, quality projects year after year,” says Woelders.
Woelders credits caring, hard working staff and craft that go the extra mile to ensure Norcon clients are satisfied. “We are a safety-first construction company focused on employees first,” he says. “Our greatest asset is our people. We ensure safety is top-of-mind in everything we do as we want everyone to go home safe each and every day.”
Norcon also has developed and fostered relationships with Indigenous communities in Alberta that has helped Norcon create long lasting partnerships.
“We support Indigenous communities throughout Alberta with employment, subcontracting opportunities, profit sharing and community support and donations,” he says. “Through these partnerships we can provide our clients with the same level of service we typically provide while giving back to Indigenous communities. Some of the ways we give back include community donations, employment, contracting opportunities and volunteering. Supporting Indigenous communities in and around the areas we work is very important to us.”
An illustration of Norcon’s capabilities is its current project, a major mine reclamation project with over 1,500,000 m3 of earth to move using 40 pieces of equipment and 50 personnel on the project at peak.
Norcon is also in the last stages of a major pipeline project where it completed pad and road construction for two facilities along the pipeline. This project included excavation, backfill, gravel installation, culvert installation, asphalt paving and concrete foundations requiring 20 pieces of equipment and 30 personnel on site at its height.
Adds Woelders, “We recently completed a 140-hectare pipeline clearing project where we executed all the stumping, grubbing and burning. Crews worked day and night for three months all winter with a fleet of excavators ensuring the work was completed ahead of the pipeline contractor ensure zero delay.”
Within the group of companies, there are 400 pieces of new and well-maintained equipment. “There are offices, shops and laydowns scattered throughout Alberta that support all of our projects,” says Woelders. “Having access to a large equipment fleet and multiple locations throughout Alberta allows us to provide our clients with more cost-effective project solutions than some of our competitors.”
Norcon communicates with its clients with regard to all matters, whether its during the bid stage of a project, to contract negotiation, to project execution and closeout. Clear, transparent, and open communication with our clients on a daily basis helps them better manage the projects from their end.
“Our goal is to partner with our clients and work with them long-term, not just for one project. To do this we do everything we can to meet our clients’ needs, add value whenever possible and ensure they are satisfied with the end project they are paying for.”
“We have a team of smart, talented and enthusiastic individuals that are very experienced in what they do,” adds Woelders. “We support local and Indigenous and want to truly add value when and where we can.”
With its head office, yard and shop is located in Edmonton Alberta at 11310 Winterburn Road, the group of companies has yards located in Wetaskiwin, Drayton Valley, Grande Prairie, and Fox Creek. Norcon’s projects takes the team throughout Alberta and BC in locations such as Fort McMurray, Drumheller, Hinton, Fox Creek and Chetwynd.
For more information, please visit www.norconconstruction.ca
